Model(s) covered: 2006 Ducati Paul Smart 1000 LE, 2006 Ducati Sport 1000
Ducati's new SportsClassics have been a long time coming, but for the most part it's entirely deliberate. The inspiration for these striking retro bikes dates right back to 1972, and even the SportsClassics themselves have been a familiar sight since first unveiled as concept machines at the Tokyo Show in November 2003.
In truth, however, the two years they've taken to reach production is lightning fast (the industry norm for concept to production is three). But however long it felt, now, having ridden them, we're happy to say the wait has been more than worth it.
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Model(s) covered: 2006 Ducati Paul Smart 1000 LE, 2006 Ducati Sport 1000
Whether at the heart of the motorcycling craze of the early Seventies or loitering on its periphery, most motorcyclists remember when Ducati's first big-bore machines burst onto the scene. The Super Sport 750, with its striking metallic-silver fairings and sea-green frame, blended proven racing ability with road-going sensibility. The Sport 750, meanwhile, was notable for its bright yellow tank and clip-on handlebars; essentially a production-based café racer, it came from the factory with a raucous, street-savvy personality. Those outrageous Ducatis—introduced in one of motorcycling's most competitive eras, when numerous manufacturers produced an array of new models—were instant classics.
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